Give your rice some zip and zest with this Cilantro Lime Rice recipe! It might be inspired by Chipotle, but it tastes SO much better when you make it at home. Stuff it into burritos, add it to bowls, or serve it as the perfect Taco Night side!
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The easiest way to upgrade your rice!
On its own, rice is pretty ho-hum. It benefits from some jazzing up, whether it’s Lemon Rice, Turmeric Rice, or this cilantro lime rice recipe.
- By simply adding lime zest, juice, garlic, and cilantro, you’ll add bright, herbaceous flavor to your rice. It’s delish!
- While Tex-Mex dishes like Crockpot Mexican Chicken are a natural pairing for cilantro lime rice, it’s surprisingly versatile. I’ve been making it to serve with Caribbean, Middle Eastern, and Asian dishes like Green Curry too.
- Use my cooking technique and your rice will turn out delightfully fluffy. No soggy, clumpy rice here!
Everything about this cilantro lime rice recipe is easy-peasy, so I love adding it to my weekend meal prep routine. I’ll make a double batch and have it on hand for Steak Bowls and taco night!
5 Star Review
“Really liked how light and fresh this rice tasted. I served it with some grilled shrimp and it paired perfectly.”
— Margaret —
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Long Grain Rice. I used jasmine rice for this recipe, but another long-grain variety of white rice will also work. What you don’t want is a short-grain rice, which is stickier and clumpier.
- Water or Vegetable Broth. You’ll get a little extra flavor if you use broth.
- Lime. You’ll need both the zest and the juice.
- Garlic. Enough to add some oomph without making the rice taste garlicky.
- Cilantro. The stems of cilantro are tender, so you don’t have to pull off the leaves unless you find the stems objectionable.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Rice
Rinse the Rice. This removes the starchiness, giving you the nice, fluffy texture you want. Add the rice to a sieve and run cold water over it until the water running off is clear, not cloudy.
Bring to a Boil. Add the rinsed rice, water, and salt to a pan and bring to a boil over high heat.
Simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pan, and simmer for 12 minutes. (I’ve got an entire primer on How to Cook White Rice for some additional tips!)
Steam. Remove the pan from the heat and let the rice sit inside (still covered!) for 10 minutes.
Finish. Add the lime zest and juice, garlic, and cilantro. Season with additional salt if needed and ENJOY!
What to Serve With Cilantro Lime Rice
I bet you have some ideas of your own, too! But here are my personal faves:
- Burritos. This Vegetarian Burrito recipe is fantastic for meal prep!
- Enchiladas. A scoop of cilantro lime rice will round out your plate of Vegetarian Enchiladas.
- Tacos. Serve Salmon Tacos or Flank Steak Tacos with this rice and refried beans.
- Bowls. A Burrito Bowl is so much better with cilantro lime rice instead of plain rice!
- Beans. Rice and beans is a classic budget-friendly meal! These Crock Pot Pinto Beans are a reader favorite.
Cilantro Lime Rice
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Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain rice I used Jasmine
- 1 ½ cups water or vegetable broth
- Pinch kosher salt omit if using broth
- 1 lime zest and juice
- 1 small clove garlic finely chopped
- ½ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
- In a sieve, rinse the rice well and drain, swishing it until the water runs clear. Add it to a medium saucepan with the water and salt.
- Bring to a boil uncovered, reduce the heat to low until you have a gentle simmer, then cover and reduce the heat all the way to low. Let gently simmer covered for 12 minutes (don’t peek!), then remove from the heat. Let steam 10 minutes, still covered.
- While the rice is still warm, stir in the lime zest (zest it directly over the pan), lime juice, garlic, and cilantro. Taste and adjust the seasoning as desired.
Notes
- TO STORE: Store the cilantro lime rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- TO REHEAT: Warm the rice in the microwave until it’s heated through.
- TO FREEZE: Pack the rice into airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Nutrition
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I made this to go with grilled chicken and avocado, and it worked so well together. It’s not a showstopper dish on its own, but as a part of the meal it really lifted everything up. Sometimes simple is best. Thank you so much for sharing!
So glad to hear, thank you Cheryl!
I love your method for cooking the rice. Really liked how light and fresh this rice tasted. I served it with some grilled shrimp and it paired perfectly. It’s not overly seasoned, which makes it a nice base for other dishes. Simple, clean flavors done right.
Thanks so much, Margaret!
Made this last night and it turned out really good. The rice was soft but not mushy, and the flavors were subtle but pleasant. I like that you can taste the lime without it being too sour.
So happy to hear it, thank you!!
Wow, refreshing lime and cilantro flavors in the rice. I used a rice cooker and added flavors at the end. Super easy and tastey!
Great to hear, Carol! Thank you!
I rarely make rice over the stovetop because I’m not the greatest cook and I manage to do something wrong in the process. However, this turned out perfectly and was very tasty. Thanks for such a good recipe!
Sharon, I have the same issue sometimes! So glad this did the trick for you
I followed the recipe exactly, and HOORAY! I made non-sticky white rice for the first time ever! Plus the cilantro and lime are tasty additions. Thanks Erin for the recipe and techniques.
So pleased to hear it Dale, thank you!
I really liked how simple this was to make. I used jasmine rice and followed the recipe closely. The flavors were light and refreshing, and it worked well with the black beans I served it with. I might try adding a bit of garlic next time just to boost the flavor a bit.
So glad to hear, thanks Amber!
Made this for a potluck and served it with shredded chicken. It went over pretty well. I personally like stronger flavors, so I added extra lime zest and a touch of chili powder. If you like mild, clean flavors, the original version is fine as-is.
So glad to hear! Thank you Sally!
Turned out decent. I like that it’s pretty customizable. I ended up adding chopped green onion for some extra flavor. The texture was good and it paired nicely with grilled salmon. It’s a nice recipe to have on hand when you want to jazz up rice without much effort. Thank you!
Great to hear, Jackie! Thank you!
My family absolutely loved this! Next time I will double it because both kids (8&12)were begging for left overs!
Great to hear, thank you Marie!